Feeling Down? Go Help Someone Rather Than Looking for Someone to Help You
I've known this for some time. When I'm depressed, like this past week, when a friend's son, and a young man I taught journalism to, took his own life last week, and then when there was a bomb scare at my son's high school (and a job contract ended suddenly), I went to help at my church's after-school program and soon I was feeling better, surrounded by all the high-on-sugar (this was the Valentine's Day party day) and sweet, anyway, kids. Many of them come from low-income homes and they're hungry for loving contact. Some parents work several works and aren't home too much, while others may be in jail (yes, sadly) or just not around. But it does more for me than the kids when they come up to me and ask me to read with them, or they follow me like a little shadow. Or they look really happy to see me. And now a new study confirms this. According to newswise.com, giving support—rather than receiving it—may have unique positive effects on key b...